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Blake Ayshford has no intention of moving into the Wests Tigers forward pack despite packing on an extra three kilos in the NRL off-season.
Ayshford has made the left-centre spot his own under Tim Sheens since debuting in 2009 - but has long been earmarked for a move to the backrow because of his tall frame.
And now, under the tutelage of new trainer John Skandalis, the 190cm 23-year-old has cracked 100kg for the first time in his career.
But he insists it won’t result in a move from the centres, even as Sheens attempts to squeeze Tim Moltzen, Mitch Brown and new signing Joel Reddy into an already bulging backline.
“No, I’m not moving yet … I prefer playing as a bigger centre,” Ayshford told AAP.
"There’s a lot more smaller people out there on the edges, so I won’t get hammered.
“If I was to go (into the second-row) I’d have to put on a couple more kilos and be more like (106kg Tiger) Gareth Ellis.”
Ayshford said he felt comfortable with the additional weight, believing it would give him the upper hand against his lighter rivals in 2012.
“It’s just all mental,” he continued.
"People say it’s hard to adjust to playing with extra weight, but I feel stronger and fitter when I’m weighing more.
"If I can lose some fat around a couple of areas while still keeping the (muscle) weight on then I’ll hopefully be a better player than last year.
“It just gives me a bit of confidence to know that I’m playing over 100 kilos.”
If Ayshford is to ever join the pack, he knows he has the perfect man to learn from in Ellis.
“I rate him as the best back rower in the world,” Ayshford raved.
“I’d take his lead. If Sheensy does say you’ve got to go into the second row that’s who I’ll be modelling my game on.”
Meanwhile, Ayshford said he hopes whoever fills the Tigers No.7 jersey this year is able to settle into the role as quickly as possible.
Moltzen, Jacob Miller, Tom Humble and Curtis Sironen are all contenders to replace Robert Lui, who has joined North Queensland.
But having seen how long it took to find a stable option following Scott Prince’s departure for the Gold Coast at the end of 2006, Ayshford hopes the process of finding the next partner for star five-eighth Benji Marshall isn’t as troublesome.
“It took us a while after Scotty Prince left to get a good halfback, then we finally got one and now we’ve got to rebuild again,” Ayshford said.
From Nrl.com.au
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Keep him in the centres, the way he improved last year was great & he has more improvement in him still.
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Good story,but he is a right a centre,not a left centre.
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I am loving the way Ayshford is coming on as a player. Each year he steps up.
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Go u blake and chrisy lawrence we have the best centre pairing. And blake you will learn from the 2 best back rowers in the world ellis and blair.
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Hope he’s doing some sprint training as well. Little bit more speed, a couple of kilos, he’ll be unstoppable.
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@black and white tiger:
Hope he’s doing some sprint training as well. Little bit more speed, a couple of kilos, he’ll be unstoppable.
Sprint training is part of the parcel in off-season training.
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I was very adamant Ayshford stays in the centres for a few years but im not as staunch on that anymore. I still would like to see him outwide but if he does move into the pack im not against it. Blake looked very big towards the end of last year and with reports that Reddy is very impressive at training and Sheens is searching for a starting spot for him, it wouldnt surprise me to see Reddy at 3, with Ayshford to the backrow allowing Ellis to play some front row at stages to help Galloway
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I don’t know Sirro, Ayshford has really earnt his spot in the centres and I think provided he has not lost any pace, then having a 101kg centre with a long rangy stride which is difficult to stop makes a lot of sense to me. I know Reddy is pushing hard at training, but I reckon somewhere on the bench is going to be his best at this stage as he could play centre, fullback or backrow.
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I agree Willow. I think this time next year Reddy will be at the centre of 2012 “best buys” talk. He can fill so many gaps and hopefully eliminate Sheens’ winger on the bench fetish.
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I don’t know Sirro, Ayshford has really earnt his spot in the centres and I think provided he has not lost any pace, then having a 101kg centre with a long rangy stride which is difficult to stop makes a lot of sense to me. I know Reddy is pushing hard at training, but I reckon somewhere on the bench is going to be his best at this stage as he could play centre, fullback or backrow.
Yeah agreed….big fast powerful centres, leave him there, its what he wants.
Aint broke, dont fix -
If he is so keen to stay in the Centres then he needs to pick up his fitness.
Those extra three kilos aren’t going to help him. -
If he is so keen to stay in the Centres then he needs to pick up his fitness.
Those extra three kilos aren’t going to help him.Some bloke named Meninga used to be a 100kg+ centre. He seemed to go alright.
Just sayin’
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If he is so keen to stay in the Centres then he needs to pick up his fitness.
Those extra three kilos aren’t going to help him.Some bloke named Meninga used to be a 100kg+ centre. He seemed to go alright.
Just sayin’
Yeah I miss those days as well !
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Inglis,Hodges and Gasnier all over 103kgs
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